Arthur trevor dawson and george thomas buckham



No. e|4,702. Patented Nov. 22, I898. A. 'r. DAWSON & a. T. BUCKHAM.

CUNGEALED FORT FOB ARTILLERY.

(Application filed May 16, 1898.)

(No Model.)

. fiver-Firs Elf-3.0.551; Q 3 w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAIVSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE VIOKERS, SONS & MAXIM, LIMITED, OF

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

CONCEALED FORT FOR ARTILLERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,702, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed May 16,1898. Serial No. 680,835. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that we, ARTHUR TREVOR DAwsoN and GEORGE THOMAS BUoKHAM, citizens of England, residing at 28 Victoria street, \Vestminster, in the city of London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Concealed Fort for Artillery, (for which we have made application for a patent in Great Britain, No. 5,357, dated March i, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the mounting of a breech-loading gun in a fort in such a manner that the whole of the mounting and the vital parts of the gun, as well as the gunners and ammunition, are completely protected and concealed and that the gun can be'easily and quickly withdrawn inside the fort when it is not in use.

\Ve shall describe a fort according to our invention, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan.

The fort generally is constructed of masonry A, on which is an armor-plate roof 13,

preferably convex. In front there is an embrasure the bottom 0 and sides D of which are preferably of thick chilled metal strong enough to protect the lower part of the gunmounting and the masonry. Above the embrasure a curved armor-plate E, which forms the front, is secured inside to the sides D of the embrasure. There are also secured to the sides of the embrasure two wing armorplates E, which project obliquely inward, so as to approach nearly to the center of the gun-mounting G, which is fixed close up to the front of the fort and guarded by a circular-fronted armor-shield. Thus the construction of the front of the fort and the armor wing-plates F, the position of the mounting G, and its circular shield form an arrangement similar to the casemate-mounting of guns on board ship.

The whole of the fort except the embrasure may be covered up and concealed with earth work H.

The gun when not in use can be withdrawn completely inside the fort on a trolley K, which may run on rails. This trolley is run under the breech end of the gun and carries it and the cradle, while guide-rollers on the mounting G support the chase of the gun as the gun is run back. To allow for the gun and cradle being quickly withdrawn, as de= scribed, the trunnion-bearings are made with gaps which can be turned to the rear to allow the trunnions to be withdrawn, as described in an application.

Projectiles may be stored around the inside of the fort and ammunition in a room L, con structed at the rear of the fort under the earthwork.

The fort may be made of sufficient Width to accommodate several guns, each shielded and situated behind an embrasure protected as described.

We claim- A fort having sides and rear constructed of masonry and an armor-plate roof having in its front an embrasure with bottom and sides made of chilled metal, its upper part closed by a curved armor-plate and on each side an oblique wing-plate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM.

WVitnesses to the signature of Arthur Tre vor Dawson:

GEo. W. REA, F. B. KEEPER.

Witnesses to the signature of George Thomas Buckham:

FREDO. HARRIS, JNO. 'P. M. MILLARD. 

